OCCUPIED COUNTRY

Thank You For Being a Friend

So, last Sunday Mr and Mrs Youngest were transported to Manchester airport to await their honeymoon flight to New York. An hour later they get a phone call from the kennels informing them that one of their greyhounds had collapsed and was in a bad way.

Against all advice that the rest of the family would deal with it, Mr and Mrs Youngest cancel their flights and retrieve their baggage. Deeply upset they arrange a vet to investigate the dog and check their pet insurance. In the end the dog has to have an operation to remove a blood clot from its spine. £5,000 and counting. We still don't know whether he's going to pull through. Here's hoping.

Come Monday I receive the following email from one of Mr and Mrs Youngest's mates:-

"Hello all,

Don't know if all of you have heard but [Mr and Mrs Youngest] have had to miss their honeymoon due to Tom collapsing just as they where about to board their plane to NYC. Tom has had an operation and it seems he only has 50% chance of making it :-( Hopefully they should know by sometime today.

When I asked what was going to happen about their honeymoon I was told that they could no longer afford to go on one due to the Vet fees they are now going to have to pay out.

Now, I believe every married couple deserves a honeymoon and I'm really gutted for both of them as we all know how much they were looking forward to going and for them not to be going away just doesn't seem right.

So I was thinking if we could all put a little money in (whatever people can afford) we could maybe raise enough for them to go away and have a nice honeymoon when things settle down. We could maybe get them some holiday vouchers or just get them a later flight to New York so they don't totally miss out on the hotels they've already paid for.

What do people think? Do you think they would be happy for us to do this? I would be willing to put in £50 to get things started.

If you could pass this on to anyone who you think would be willing to chip in and that I've missed out that would be great."

Then the replies started coming back: "count me in", "I'm game", "put me down for £xx". And so on. Dearest, myself and Mrs Youngest's parents were really touched (in fact I'm filling up just writing this).

To cut a long story short, as we met up for our usual Thursday evening at the quiz, travel vouchers worth £1,000 were presented to the gob-smacked couple along with two tickets to see The Raconteurs (they should've been seeing them in Atlantic City - but they'll have to make do with Manchester ;-)). And there's still a couple of hundred pounds to put towards a helicopter ride round the Grand Canyon.

Don't it just warm your cockles?

Mrs Youngest sent a thank you email to everone:-

SPEECHLESS! (Soppy email alert.) Dearest everyone

I've been trying to write this email on behalf of myself and {Youngest] for ages now, and its one of the hardest I've ever had to write. Its been started and scrapped several times now, because it just doesnt do justice to how we feel right now.

I've figured that, even though I am rubbish at this sort of thing, I just need to get it said... I apologise now for mistakes & general crapness.

What started as a normal thursday night in the Willow yesterday, left both [Youngest] and myself totally and utterly astonished, amazed, overwhelmed & speechless by the generosity, and kindness of you all. In fact, I'm welling up again just thinking about it!! :-) I really dont quite know how to say thanks for the wedding present you gave us yesterday.

To cancel the honeymoon was gutting, but as you all know, Tom's our baby and there was no way we could go and have a happy holiday. All I can really say, is thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much for the vouchers - we will get something sorted as soon as we we have a better idea of Tom's condition.

And not forgetting the tickets for the Raconteurs gig - when we opened the first card with the details of the gig, we were speechless and overwhelmed by that alone ... that was before we knew about the vouchers.

All that remains is to say that you all really really are the bestest and most kindest bunch of people I've ever come across!!! And extra special thanks to [friend] for sorting it all out :-))))))))))) xxx

Now, I'm off to have another little weep onto my sandwiches, as I've overwhelmed myself again!!!

There are a few people who also need to see this message, who's email address I dont have here at work, so please could someone pass it on for them to see :-)

The biggest ever love and hugs

They sure have got some wonderful friends.

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And so to current affairs.

Here's question for you. How long do you think it will be before Dubya invades Thailand to restore democracy?

I'll take that as a "never" then shall I?

Speaking of current affairs, Manchester's chock full of HMGs finest getting ready to break some heads (possibly) during this afternoon's anti war march through the streets of the world's first industrial city. The Labour Party's conference is being held in my fair city for the first time and a lot of the locals are severely pissed off with the effect on their daily routine. Streets closed, whole areas deemed "no go" and glowering, dark-suited goons sending a shiver down your spine.

Enjoy your last conference Toneh.

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Well it looks like the wheels have fallen off City's Premiership campaign already. Out of the Carling Cup after being humiliated by the mighty Chesterfied Never trust a town with a crooked spire.

The tabloids are now talking of "crunch time for Pearce" and predicting the next three games as crucial to his survival. Eldest has got my season ticket for today's West Ham encounter and Dearest and myself will make do with the live screening in the local. I'm not confident. Not confident at all.

+++++UPDATE+++++UPDATE+++++UPDATE+++++ Well, I should've been very confident indeed. We won 2-0 thanks to two fab strikes from Giorgis Samaras and, to put things further into perspective, United were held to a draw by the mighty Reading.